Effect of Ceftiofur Sodium (Excenel)(R) on the Immune Response of Vaccinated Chickens

In this study , the effects of ceftiofur sodium on the humoral and cellular immune response of non- vaccinated and vaccinated chickens with IB virus vaccine were studied. Inthis respect , the drug was S. C. injected in two dose regimen(low therapeutic, 2.5 mg /kg b.wt. of chicken and high therapeutic dose 5.0 mg/kg b.wt) daily for 3 successive days. The results were summarized as follow: I-Effect on humoral immunity :A-Total serum proteins and serum albumin: Serum total proteins and albumin were non- significantlyaffected in vaccinated non treated as well as non- vaccinated groups . whereas, the two parameters were significantly increased in vaccinated and treated groups with low and hightherapeutic doses of the drug during the 1st & 2nd weeks after treatment respectively when compared with vaccinated group. Moreover high therapeutic non vaccinated groupshowed elevation in the serum total protein and albumin during the 1st three weeks after treatment.